The effect of violent video game exposure on emotion modulation of startle and aggression

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Abstract

Video games are quickly becoming the most widely accessible, and used, form of
entertainment, with those that contain violence have consistently been the most popular.
Building on previous research examining other forms of media, a growing body of literature
suggests a connection between violent video game exposure and increased aggression. The
General Aggression Model (GAM), has been developed to help explain this relationship, which
combines decades of aggression research into a single model. While the GAM describes several
routes to increased aggression there are only two cognitive routes. These cognitive routes are
desensitization (diminished natural negative response) and priming (pre-activation of neural
circuitry related to aggression), and the current study competitively tests these two routes in
relation to violent video game exposure (VVGE) using Emotion Modulated Startle (EMS).
The objective psychophysiological measure EMS assesses emotional state through either
potentiation, or inhibition of the startle response. The startle response is a negative-defensive
response, a negative emotional state enhances the startle response through priming, while a
positive emotional state diminishes the startle response. In the context of VVGE, if priming is
the primary route to increased aggression, EMS would predict a primed startle response while
viewing violent-negative images, and therefore a larger startle response post exposure. If
desensitization is the primary route EMS would predict a diminished startle response reflecting
less negative priming by the emotional state elicited by VVGE.
In the present study EMS was used to assess the effects of both chronic and acute violent
video game exposure by comparing baseline and pre-post gameplay (violent, nonviolent) EMS
for participants with high and low violent video game exposure. A modified Taylor Competitive
Reaction Time Task (TCRTT) was used after completing the post-gameplay EMS session to
assess aggression.
The results of this study suggest that desensitization is the primary cognitive route to
increased aggression with decreased EMS responses to violent negative images associated with
chronic and acute VVGE. The relationship between desensitization and laboratory aggression
was also examined, finding an increased level of aggression exhibited after acute violent video
game exposure, but only for those with high chronic VVGE.